GDB 39: Canucks have Sundin, we have Brule
Jason Gregor
January 07 2009 12:20PM
While everyone is focusing on the debut of Mats Sundin tonight, Oilers fans will see Gilbert Brule on the first line for the first time. Brule and Reddox took turns on the RW at the morning skate today, but Brule tipped me off that he will be on the wing tonight.
For Brule this is the first opportunity to play in a true offensive role in the NHL and he is excited.
“It’s a great chance to think offence. I know that I just have to play a simple game and focus more on getting into spaces where I can score,” said Brule.
The other aspect about Brule’s game that should come in handy tonight against the pesky Canucks is his willingness to play gritty. With disturbers and pests like Kesler and Burrows, if Brule can bring that element tonight that could go a long way for him staying in the line-up, at least until Hemsky returns.
Jacques skates
JF Jacques skated with his teammates for the first time this season, but he is still a long ways away from playing. Jacques’ back is still sore from the surgery and he is looking at getting in a game sometime in February. But that will be in the AHL with the Springfield Falcons and it is very doubtful that he will play with the Oilers this season.
Steve MacIntyre saw the doctor yesterday and it looks like he will be cleared to play in ten days, but the way the fourth line is playing right now it will be hard for him to get in the line-up. Expect him to get a two-week conditioning stint in Springfield to try and get in game shape.
Dwayne Roloson will start in goal tonight for the Oilers. Shawn Horcoff said his back is feeling much better today, and it shouldn’t give him any trouble tonight.
Mats Sundin will skate with Kyle Wellwood and former Camrose Kodiak Mason Raymond tonight, while Pavol Demitra will skate with the Sedin sisters.
The Canucks long term plan is to use Demitra and Sundin as a pair, with the Sisters on the other line, and the other winger will be on a rotation basis, based on who is playing well and which guy has chemistry with the specific pair.
Only Gene Principe could make calling Kyle Wellwood fat fun and humorous from the player's standpoint.
He's a very special genius, our Principe.
Oh man. Good thing Gene flipped that side upside down, because the whole time I was all like, yeah, it's his name on a sign. BURN. And then BAM!
PRINCIPE FOR PRIME MINISTER!!!!!
@ BUCK75:
The sad thing is that I usually have tons of time for MacTavish. He's lost me this season, though.
Jason Jaffray former Edmonton Ice
R-DAWG wrote:
Oh wait, douchebags are usefull...WOOOOO!! Staios!
Staios! Take that you smug, anti-Staios legions!
SNAP PUFFY!
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
I've seen plyons knock pucks off sticks, support kids during public skating, but very rarely do you ever see plyons scoring from the point!
*shocked*
WTF happened to Cole over Christmas?
Horcoff with almost another gamebreaking giveaway for the Canucks.
Damn you, anti-Staios legions! Give him his goal back!
Travis Dakin wrote:
And I appreciate it. Today is actually quite the milestone for our little site. We had our millionth pageview at like 4 PM today and it is going to be our busiest day ever in terms of visitors and pageviews.
Way busier than we ever thought possible that's for dang sure
BUCK75 wrote:
He got given to a naughty girl. Because he's cole - coal, cole, get it? Get it? Nevermind.
OH WOW HOLY SHPATZ
@ Jonathan Willis:
Can you draw a picture Gene? Or maybe a sign that flips upside down...
Dear gods of hockey, thank you for not letting Bernier get a hat trick because if he did, the city of Vancouver would be fishing a prostitutes body out of False Creek tomorrow morning.
Wanye Gretz wrote:
That's awesome! it's nice to see how far this little ol sight has gotten since the beginning.
Wanye Gretz wrote:
shocked silence
uh what?
BUCK75 wrote:
No, but if you could draw a picture for me, I could flip it upside down.
That's not a natural hat trick you idiot DeBrusk.
GREAT BEARD OF THOR
What the *****************!?!?!
FINISH FOR CHRIST'S SAKES!
Cogliano's playing the wing here - and Horcoff was out for the faceoff.
Also, it would be nice if the commentary team would acknowledge it was the Kesler line that got scored on.
Horcoff is weak!!
The Oil are trying to get a win for you Wayne!!
Dana @ AgileStyle wrote:
And then there are those of us who refresh the page a minimum of 100 times a day while we are at work.
lol, Horcoff must be taking tips on scoring from Brodziak & Strudwick. He is doing everything possible to get everything except a stick on the puck.
BUCK75 wrote:
I have it on good authority that he was taking his tips from Ethan Moreau, Fearless Leader.
Travis Dakin wrote:
But we would trade it all for a third period goal...
@ Travis Dakin: I believe that when Wanye is talking about the stats he means unique ip addresses and not page views.
I just refreshed the page and noticed Brule as the picture on the GDB. Where did he go?
Jonathan Willis wrote:
Didn't he win the shoot-out portion of Super Skills? Crazy.
Might as well go for a soda Willie Mitchell
HiYa!
Wanye Gretz wrote:
Careful.... It's going to happen. Book it.
Travis Dakin wrote:
Apperentely they are matching him shift for shift with Sundin.
Travis Dakin wrote:
He's -2 on the night, so MacT switched him for Cole. He's playing nine forwards now. Mostly:
Penner - Horcoff - Cole Nilsson - Gagner - Cogliano Moreau - Brodziak - Pouliot
Dana @ AgileStyle wrote:
Actually this is the busiest for both if we finish strong.
Perhaps a win would help or a season ending injury to Sundin....
"Mats Sundin can't get the shot away."
PLAY OF THE NIGHT.
@ Jonathan Willis:
Thanks bro.
A talking accountant baby in an ad?
Oh Boston Pizza
*bursts into frustrated tears*
I showed my class at school this site Wayne
@ Wanye Gretz:
Those are accountants in those ads!?!? Wow, I thought my accountant was a geek.
If they DO score, this will create some momentumonium which powers the engines
Wanye Gretz wrote:
But is it worse than Howie Mandel? Is it really?
We need Eberle right now
@ Jonathan Willis:
Willis you are like the hockey version of Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting. While most of us can barely follow the play at the best of times, you are silently logging every players TOI and SOG as the game goes on. Unreal.
It's gotta suck to look at your bench and find no one you want to send over the boards to try and tie it. After Cole who else is trying his ass off...Maybe Souray???
Katz plate shifting machine strikes again - miss the playoffs and resign all players at 55% of market value. The entire banking crisis was engineered by Katz and the Generals at NORAD to ensure they resign Roloson cheaper...
And that's game. Sonofagun.
Did Demitra really have to rip a slapper there? Has he ever heard of no chicken shots? Sheesh.